(Screenshot courtesy of Ken Drew)
I got into Herbie Hancock via his second Blue Note album My Point of View which so impressed me I immediately "headhunted" his first album, Takin' Off, which was the subject of last night's playback session at Smitty's.
I wasn't disappointed the first time around and nor was I last night.
As was frequently pointed out during the session there were some mighty big shoes to fill - Freddie Hubbard, Dexter Gordon, Herbie, Butch Warren and Billy Higgins - Dylan, Alec, Ferg and the two Wills didn't need a shoe horn, the shoes fitted like a glove (perhaps I should rephrase that!)
Unfair to single any one out. On the funky jazz rock numbers such as Watermelon Man and Three Bags Full the horns had the paint peeling from the ceiling whilst on the mediums and the slows - Empty Pockets; The Maze; Driftin' and Alone and I - sensitivity was to the fore particularly on the latter number where Harper dealt up the emotion demanded by the title.
On Empty Pockets, Jones inserts a lengthy quote from Down by the Riverside before shooting off into the rafters. Cleasby works out on Three Bags Full, Ireland does some walkin' on Driftin' and Barry is simply fantastic on everything.
Another good un' from Smitty's.
Lance
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